Five killed after tree falls on matatu, in Kangemi, Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya: Five people were killed when a huge tree fell on a matatu and bodaboda in Kangemi area, Nairobi.

Eight other passengers are admitted in hospital with injuries following the incident that happened Wednesday evening.

Police said the tree had aged and its roots were lose. Four of the deceased were in a matatu while one was a rider of the motorbike that was also near there, witnesses and police said.

 The injured were rushed to Kikuyu hospital where they are admitted with various injuries.

The matatu nicknamed Prestige Shuttle was headed for Nakuru when the incident happened

Dagoretti OCPD Mohamed Rashid said the tree was huge hence the deaths and injuries.

Officials from the fire department had to arrive at the scene and managed to trim the tree and removed it. The matatu was towed to the police station.

Rashid called on officials to check on status of trees near roads for safety purposes.

“Such trees sometimes fall and block roads whenever it rains and it is important that relevant authorities check on their status as part of efforts to ensure we are safe,” he said.

A crowd milled around the scene of the accident as rescue efforts went on. The incident caused a huge traffic jam on the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway before more police arrived to clear it.

Tens of people have been killed in incidents involving public service vehicles in the past two months alone.

Authorities have been sustaining campaigns for road safety in the country as part of efforts to contain the deaths and injuries.